Newt Gingrich Overstates Florida Primary Results

WASHINGTON -- After losing Saturday's Nevada caucus race, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich sought solace in what he called an encouraging statistic: that his supporters were turning out to vote more enthusiastically than those of his chief rival, Mitt Romney.

"I think it's amazing, if you go look at Florida, every county I carried in Florida had an increased turnout. Every county Romney carried in Florida had a decreased turnout. Now that should sober every Republican in the country," Gingrich told reporters.

He repeated the assertion in appearances on CBS, NBC and CNN.

His numbers were off, however. While Gingrich carried 34 counties in the Jan. 31 Florida primary, 13 of those recorded lower turnout than they had in the last such GOP voting, in 2008.

And while 32 of the 33 counties Romney carried in winning the state did see declines, it wasn't as absolute as Gingrich put it. One – Sumter County – showed a nearly 20 percent increase in turnout.

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Comments

[dbrett480]

04:54 PM on 02/09/2012

For someone who ran solely to promote a book, Gingrich is doing quite well.

[dfranz]

03:28 PM on 02/07/2012

The whole process is running just as predicted. In every primary to date, they have had less participation than in 2008. I suppose it has nothing to do with a pathetic list of candidates to choose from.

[dduncan]

03:22 PM on 02/07/2012

if he is speaking, he is lying.

[seven77plan]

03:01 PM on 02/07/2012

Newt,this is up to you.....would you prefer to have a lost or rejection in Nev.

The results speak for themselves,no amount of analysis will change anything.

[pphhrogg]

02:59 PM on 02/07/2012

Why would anyone believe ANYTHING that comes out of Newt's mouth? He's a serial liar.

[Wrongway62]

02:25 PM on 02/07/2012

Newty does not tell untruths, he just has a little trouble being factual.

[Querent]

01:56 PM on 02/07/2012

So Newt lied. What a revelation. Think it's ever happened before?

After all, Newt's a conservative. Conservatives always lie.

[David Flint]

01:53 PM on 02/07/2012

The confident stupidity of Newt Gingrich appears yet again.

[Kman821]

01:46 PM on 02/07/2012

Bubble-Butt has never even had a nodding acquaintanceship with the truth, but he does hold a PHD is Revisionist History.

[nevernot]

01:24 PM on 02/07/2012

Newt needs to hire someone to follow him around wearing a sign that says "Not intended to be a factual statement"... He doesn't seem to be able to say anything with a slight modicum of truth, might as well have a disclaimer following him everywhere he goes.

[kareemachan]

01:08 PM on 02/07/2012

Of course he misstated something. His lips were moving.

[klile]

01:06 PM on 02/07/2012

Nobody really expects Newt to be factual, do they?

[yellowdoggie]

12:48 PM on 02/07/2012

I doubt if he meant it to be factually correct.

hahahaha

[SantaMonican]

12:39 PM on 02/07/2012

Newt is one, big fail.

[MustangBob]

12:20 PM on 02/07/2012

If only the Chicago Mafia had not been able to falsely portray Obama as Oprah's super Hero that would rescue the poor souls from the tyrants that oppose the free loading professionals from getting their food stamps, free housing or subsidized rents, free medical, unemployment checks, and enough cash to buy Lotto Tickets every week.This is what got Obama elected. Hopefully voters in the next elections will know how to get rid of the present white House Staff and it's agenda. This country has many caring people willing to help the true honest people that have fallen into dire straits through no fault of their own. The ghetto queens abusing the system is a terrible injustice to those that really need help. A good strart would be to clean out the present bloated welfare agency staffers and have a rigid background on new hirees. Make every effort to hold accountable the people allowing the fraud and flagrant nepotism that goes on within the Welfare Systme. It's apparent that mangement is as also riding this gravy train..The politicos in the USA have fallen to the same game all third world countries play.The "What's In It For Me Game". is the new'"Motto" 'The word famous term "Mordida" comes to mind.

[pisedoff]

12:50 PM on 02/07/2012

it appears that your racist head has been where the sun don't shine for too long. You may as well put it back there and continuing to listen to Limbaugh, Beck and fox news.

[MustangBob]

12:27 PM on 02/13/2012

Pissed Off what a great name. Carry it proudly

[j hawkins]

12:53 PM on 02/07/2012

you forgot one issue...maybe you could get back on your meds.or seek some more treatment other than fox news ! Wadda you think ?

[MustangBob]

12:29 PM on 02/13/2012

Moron, the correct phrase is "what to you think?"